Has anyone here tested for the PMP Certification (Project Management Professional)?

Discussion in 'Business and MBA degrees' started by friendorfoe, May 9, 2011.

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  1. friendorfoe

    friendorfoe Active Member

    I'd like to hear about your experiences and if you have any practice test sites you would recommend. I have thus far used O'Rielly's Headfirst PMP guide which is a fun workbook but tends to get highly detailed, maybe overly so and I'm using "The PMP Exam: How to pass on your first try 4th ed" which seems more appropriately high level.

    So far I've memorized the 9 knowledge areas, the 5 process groups and all 42 processes. Now I'm working on memorizing the inputs, tools and outputs of each. I feel like I'm memorizing the Federal Tax Code. Am I doing too much? Not enough? Focusing on the wrong stuff?

    Guide me oh gurus of the web.
     
  2. FutureDr

    FutureDr New Member

    You're doing the right thing... once you've got your studying down, using CBT's is your best predictor of success on the real test. You will also want to learn how to utilize the tools and techniques, not just what they are named and when they are used. Be sure you memorize the formulas required to indicate project performance as well.

    There are OODLES of sites out there with lots of useful information on taking the PMP, including several on LinkedIn. Your local PMI Chapter is likely another good source of information.

    Hope this helps,

    Krissy
    PMP, PgMP
     
  3. friendorfoe

    friendorfoe Active Member

    Thanks Krissy.
     
  4. pikapp22

    pikapp22 New Member

    I have my PMP. A friend recently asked me the following: "I am going to take the PMP in June (although I haven't even opened a book yet) Do you recommend a classroom prep class? any tips greatly appreciated."

    I answered with the following:

    Short answer is: no, I think you can study and take it without taking a classroom prep class.

    I started 6 months out (wasn't serious though) and mostly read the PMBOK and a book by Project Management Training Courses, Online Classes, Books and PMP Certification at RMC Project Management. Then I used 4pmti.com the week before but the firm paid for it. I found that by the time I went to 4pmti, I knew more than enough.

    I have studied for the CISA and CMA without taking a class so it can be done.

    If you did anything from a class perspective, I would purchase Rita's stuff (rmcproject.com).

    I used her book (Amazon.com: PMP Exam Prep, Sixth Edition: Rita's Course in a Book for Passing the PMP Exam (9781932735185): Rita Mulcahy: Books) and it was good.

    If you felt you had to take a class, 4pmti was the best choice based on my research and I would fell comfortable recommending them.

    I would plan for at least 2 months of very focused study but you are where you are. Depending on how long you have been out of school and if you have studied for other exams, part of what you will need to overcome is just habits of studying. Since the PMP, I went right into the CISA, my MBA, CMA and now CPA. So studying is easy for me know as opposed to when I started (out of school for 13 years at that point).

    Knowing what I know now (this is how I am currently studying for the CPA), here is what I would do:
    - wake up early and study for 1 hour before work.
    - study 1 hour at night.
    - study 2-5 hours each on Sat/Sun.
    - This would give you 12 to 20 hours of study.
    - Plan to hunker down and study from now to June (I assume end of June).

    - Read PMBOK through one time just to familiarize yourself (Rita says not to do this but I disagree, I think it's helpful).
    - read through each chapter of Rita's book and/or Andy Crowe's book (Amazon.com: The PMP Exam: How to Pass on Your First Try, Fourth Edition (9780972967341): Andy Crowe PMP PgMP: Books)
    - take notes
    - work some multiple choice questions for each chapter
    - when you get to the end of the book, rewrite all your notes (allows it to synch in)
    - then just work multiple choice questions until your mind goes numb until test day.

    You might spend some time looking at the reviews on Amazon.com of both of books; lots of good insights and study plans from folks who wrote reviews.

    Hope this helps. Can't wait to hear that you have PASSED the exam; I know you will!
     
  5. GoodYellowDogs

    GoodYellowDogs New Member

    Everyone I know who has passed it used Rita's book...
     
  6. friendorfoe

    friendorfoe Active Member

    I have Andy Crowe's book. I haven't even really seen Rita's yet but between Andy's book and O'Reilly's HeadFirst PMP book I think I've got everything covered. The level of detail the HeadFirst book gets into may actually be somewhat overkill but in typical O'Reilly fashion, it's all useful.
     
  7. MISin08

    MISin08 New Member

    This is an interesting thread. I am curious about the experience requirement in real-world terms. I've met PMPs who haven't been in the workforce long enough to meet the experience requirement, so I am obviously making more of it than it needs to be.

    Phillip
     
  8. friendorfoe

    friendorfoe Active Member

    You should have around 5 years experience to take the PMP exam. Less with a degree (3 years).
     
  9. dcan

    dcan New Member

    What counts as "experience"? How do you document it? How much documentation do you need? I've done very informal project management at work, not even GANTT charts, but I can grok the basics and could study and pass the test.

    I would like to get this cert in the next 2-4 years. What should I focus on at work to make sure I have the "experience" necessary?

    Thanks!
     
  10. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    Take a look at their website. You do need to document all of your project hours. Also, the test is being changed in August so I would recommend you take it before the update. Once it is updated you will have to wait for new books to cover the new format/material.
     
  11. Dr Rene

    Dr Rene Member

    I passed the PMP exam back in 2000 when I was in the Air Force working in defense acquisition management. I actually took a PMP prep course at the Defense Systems Management College at Ft Belvoir when I was attending the Advanced Program Management Course. I used the PMBOK, Project Management IQ exam prep software, and Harold Kerzner’s textbook (which is now cross-referenced with the PMBOK).

    I now teach a PMP prep course to my MBA students as an elective. I use the PMBOK, Project Management IQ exam prep software, and Kerzner’s textbook. Everybody that has taken my course and sat for the PMP exam has passed.
     
  12. Tenesh Kana

    Tenesh Kana New Member

    Hello there,
    I am a MBA graduate.. with a 3 years experience in Project Management. Can i sit for the PMP examination or should i start with CAPM?
     
  13. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    The PMP, check the requirements - they are 3,500 hours I think.
     
  14. st22345

    st22345 Member

    PMP Exam prep materials

    I tried using Rita's book, but I found it difficult to use. Her Process Chart frustrated me and I think I wasted a lot of time trying to use it. What I did use was the PMP Certification All-In-One For Dummies by Cynthia Stackpole, Head First PMP, and the PMBOK from PMI.
    I took (and passed) the PMP exam in April 2013.
     
  15. novadar

    novadar Member

    I passed the exam nearly 9 years ago (scares me to write that).

    I attended Cheetah's 4 day boot-camp. It was incredible. I tried studying on my own before the bootcamp but the details of the PMBOK were just jelly in my brain. At the advice of a colleague who attended Cheetah and passed easily, I convinced my manager to pay for the class. It was jam packed with tons of mind-maps and other exercises. For the first 10 minutes of the test I wrote down the mind-maps on the scratch paper and then proceeded to crush the exam. I never felt so well-prepared for an exam in my life.

    Years later I tried the mind-map process to prepare for my Oracle DBA certification. I didn't quite crush it but I passed, a great feat for a BI and Data Warehousing professional who had limited "real-life" DBA experience.

    If your mind operates in visual cue modality, mind-maps along with mnemonics can be very helpful ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_map )
     
  16. keegan

    keegan New Member

    Having no managerial or project experience, I signed up for the CAPM. My first class starts next week and will end in the first week of September. I will keep you guys abreast of my experience.
     
  17. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

  18. novadar

    novadar Member

    I love how the description says "allows people to structure and record collaboration as they work through "wicked problems""

    Totally sweet and tubular!
     
  19. KristenKent

    KristenKent New Member

    Hello - to answer your question - I am taking the test in August. I have used Cheetah [link removed by Mod] for the CAPM (Certified Associate in PM) exam as well as for the PMI-ACP (Agile Exam), and they are spot on. They also have PMP exam courses (either 4-day classroom or 4-week online). I am opting for the 4-day classroom course. I have many colleagues and friends who have gone through Cheetah to get their PMP, and have only heard great things. The person at Cheetah who I work with is [contact info removed by Mod] and she has been a great help getting my PMP Eligibility application sorted and ready for the PMP exam prep course. Good luck getting your PMP!
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 7, 2013

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